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Western Bureau:
In a world where fighting cancer requires unwavering support, many patients deal with another struggle: holding down a job while receiving life-saving treatment.
Cancer survivor and advocate nurse Llauna Humphries shared the additional barriers Jamaican patients face when battling this terrible disease at the launch of the Kiwanis Club of Montego Bay’s Breast Cancer Run on Thursday in Providence.
Humphries, who leads an advocacy group called Second City, described the harsh realities cancer patients face, such as job insecurity, drug shortages and lack of access to critical diagnostic tools.
She said that for many cancer patients, the damage chemotherapy does to the body is only half the pain.
“Imagine battling a life-threatening disease and losing your livelihood because you were too sick to go to work,” she said. “I know people who have been fired after missing two days of work because of the ordeal of chemotherapy.”
She argues that the stories told by many of the people she interacts with regularly are not isolated cases.
“This highlights a systemic problem where employers often lack empathy and understanding by dismissing staff who are undergoing cancer treatment, leaving them financially destitute when they need support most,” she said.
Devastating impact
Her comments come as people’s experiences highlight a larger issue of inadequate legal protections for cancer patients in the workplace.
While there are employment laws designed to protect employees from discrimination, they are sometimes laxly enforced, and many cancer patients find themselves with nowhere to turn when they are unfairly dismissed.
“The psychological impact of job insecurity can be devastating, adding further stress to an already overwhelming situation,” Humphreys noted.
The nurse, who herself has suffered from cervical and breast cancer, also spoke of the difficulties in obtaining medication. According to her, cancer patients are facing a severe shortage of chemotherapy drugs.
“It’s anxiety-inducing to go to the pharmacy and be told that a much-needed medication is unavailable. Sometimes chemotherapy drugs take weeks to become available. It’s scary because you know that every delay could mean the cancer is spreading,” she explains.
The shortage of medicines is exacerbated by a lack of proper diagnostic equipment. According to Humphreys, vital machines in public health departments are sometimes unavailable for months, leading to delays in diagnosis and, in turn, treatment.
“People from all over the island are calling us because their local hospitals aren’t equipped to diagnose cancer. It’s really heartbreaking,” she said.
Urgent need
Her account reveals the urgent need for investment in health care infrastructure, especially in regions where resources are already stretched thin.
The physical and logistical challenges of battling cancer are compounded by the emotional stress of feeling isolated and abandoned, and Humphreys blames families for abandoning their loved ones.
“This disease can be lonely, especially when family and friends can’t handle the diagnosis and pull away. I’ve seen it so many times—husbands don’t want to know, siblings stop visiting. It’s like this disease doesn’t just attack your body. It destroys your support system,” she shared.
That feeling of abandonment extends to interactions with some medical staff, she noted. Even doctors, she said, sometimes seem disinterested because they are overwhelmed by the volume of patients and the lack of resources.
Despite the huge challenges, Humphreys said she is determined to raise awareness of the plight of cancer patients. She stressed the importance of education – not only for patients, but also for society as a whole.
“It’s not just about treatment. It’s about understanding what we’re going through and providing the support we need,” she said.
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